Recent Letters to the Editor

Embryo research misrepresentedBy Ed Siering, Muscatine, Iowa
The Iowa Legislature has enacted and the governor has signed into law a statute that permits medical research on cloned embryos. Despite decades of research on animal models and despite almost a full decade of research with human embryos, embryonic stem cells have not produced a single medical benefit.Why does the Iowa government expect economic benefit from funding such research when, according to Forbes magazine, the challenges of creating commercial products from embryonic stem cells is so difficult and prohibitively expensive that private investors and most major drug and biotech companies have not invested in it?
Why is there no private money willing to so venture?Thousands and thousands of patients have benefited from adult stem cell treatments; patients afflicted with various cancers, autoimmune diseases, anemias and blood disorders, metabolic disorders, wounds, and injuries have all been cured using adult stem cells, including the latest discovery, stem cells from cord blood.
But from embryos? Nada. Iowa, your Legislature and your governor have an agenda that they are not sharing with you. They are not being honest.

Why embryonic stem cell research is immoralBy Hannah Flanders,Age 15, Member, Muscatine Right to Life
I was very disappointed that the “embryonic stem cell research initiative” bill passed in the Iowa Legislature. To put it plainly, embryonic stem cell research is immoral and unethical.In order for scientists to research embryonic stem cell lines, they use a process called “somatic cell nuclear transfer” which is also known as therapeutic cloning!The phrase “somatic nuclear cell transfer” means taking the nucleus of a body (somatic) cell and putting it into an egg cell (ovum), which has had its nucleus removed. When the “somatic cell nuclear transfer” process” is applied, it forms a human embryo without a male sperm. This was the exact method in which “Dolly” the sheep was cloned.
It is very discouraging, because not only is embryonic stem cell research immoral, but it is also ineffective. Today there is not one successful treatment of embryonic stem cell research to report, whereas adult stem cell research (which I support 100 percent) has already generated 72 success cases!The difference between embryonic and adult stem cell research is black and white: Embryonic stem cell research is destroying lives, while adult stem cell research is saving them.
Although some people choose not to believe an embryo is a human being, they must agree that at one point ,every human being was in the form of an embryo — this is basic biology. I think many will agree with me that they are glad they were protected from an “embryonic stem cell research initiative” when they were in the form of an embryo.In the United States, we have a federal law (initiated in 1940) that protects bald eagles in every form of life. If someone shot a bald eagle, they would be subject to the penalties of the law. This same punishment would be inflicted upon those who destroyed the bird’s eggs (embryos). I am disgusted that our country will protect animals in EVERY stage of life, yet will not do the same for human beings.I am certainly not opposed to finding cures for those who have terminal illnesses. I have many close friends with type 1 juvenile diabetes.As much as I would like to see them cured, embryonic stem cell research is not justifiable. The fact that we would be curing one person at the expense of another’s life is utterly inhumane and incredibly selfish.Why not put our efforts toward a more promising alternative such as adult stem cell research?Life is a gift and it deserves protection and respect in every form from conception until natural death.